Air Force’s ‘Fit to Fight’ leads to rising trend in airmen being discharged

[unhappycamper]

Air Force’s ‘Fit to Fight’ leads to rising trend in airmen being discharged
By Jennifer H. Svan, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, November 4, 2007

Although fewer airmen have been discharged each year for being physically unfit since the U.S. Air Force instituted its “Fit to Fight” program in January 2004, the trend is steadily rising.

In 2003, 331 airmen — mostly enlisted members — were administratively separated. That was at a time when the Air Force had specific weight and body fat requirements and required the cycle ergometry test.

Under “Fit to Fight,” there are no specific weight requirements, just the abdominal circumference measurement, in addition to the 1.5-mile run and timed push-ups and sit-ups.

In 2004, one enlisted member was separated as a direct result of fitness failure, according to figures provided by Air Force officials at the Pentagon. In fiscal 2005, the number of fitness discharges climbed to seven, with no officers among them. In fiscal 2006, 71 enlisted members and two officers were separated for fitness reasons, and in fiscal 2007, 119 enlisted members — and no officers — got the boot.

~snip~

The Air Force is the second service to add the walk for those with physical or medical limitations. The Army has a 2.5-mile walk.

Among the other military components, the Navy is discharging more sailors for fitness or weight reasons under its new fitness policy.


Rest of article at: http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=50006

[Captain Hilts]

1. The Navy and Air Force have been told to cut their forces. I guess it's this way or blue to green.